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D 
D 


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oft 
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the 

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oth( 

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or  il 


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Only  edition  available/ 
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The 
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whi 

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10X  14X  18X  22X 


26X 


30X 


y 


12X 


16X 


20X 


24X 


28X 


32X 


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empreinte. 


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shall  contain  the  symbol  —»-( meaning  "CON- 
TINUED "),  or  the  symbol  V  (meaning  "END  "), 
whichever  applies. 


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dernidre  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  selon  le 
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Lorsque  le  document  est  trop  grand  pour  dtre 
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de  Tangle  sup6rieur  gauche,  de  gauche  d  droite, 
et  de  haut  en  bas,  en  prenant  le  nombre 
d'images  ndcessaire.  Les  diagrammes  suivants 
illustrent  la  mdthode. 


1 

2 

3 

1  2  3 

4  5  6 


rr.?: 


19th  CONGRESS,        [Rep.  No.  85.] 

1st  Session. 


Ho.  ofRe^ 


EXPLORATION  OF  THE  NORTHWEST  CdAST. 


January  16,  182B. 


-*- 


Mr.  Baylies,  from  the  Select  Committee  to  which  the  subject  was 

icferred,  made  the  following 

REPORT: 


M 


The  Committee  to  whom  «<  so  much  of  the  message  of  the  President  of  the 

United  States  las  respects  the  establishment  of  a  Military  Post  at  the 

mmUi  of  the  Colvmhia  River,  and  the  expediency  nfprovidinKfor  the 

more  perfect  exploring  of  the  JVorthwest  Coast  of  dmerica*>^wa8  re- 

ferredf  Ueport: 

That  they  have  examined  the  subject  referred  to  them  by  the  abftv?, 
resolution,  with  the  attention  due  to  its  intrinsic  importance,  as  well  :s 
to  the  recommendation  of  the  President  of  the  United  States,  and  have, 
as  they  trust,  impartiallv  estimated  the  advantages  and  disadvantages 
of  the  domain  of  the  United  States  on  the  Pacific  Ocean,  particularly 
as  to  its  climate,  soil,  trade,  hunting,  fishing,  ca^jability  of  defence^ 
interior  resources,  &c. 

In  this  examination  they  did  not  confine  themselves  to  the  region  of 
the  Columbia  River,  but  (as  far  as  they  had  the  means)  they  extended 
it  to  the  territory  which  is  bounded  on  the  North  by  De  Fuca's  Strait, 
whose  waters  approach  that  river  within  the  distance  of  a  few  m\l^; 
and  as  the  resolution  (without  defining  the  limits  of  the  voyage)  propo- 
ses an  exploration  of  the  Northwest  Coast,  as  well  as  the  establish- 
ment of  a  post,  they  concluded  that  it  would  violate  no  i-ule  of  propriety 
or  of  cori-ect  parliamentary  proceeding,  to  include  this  country  within 
the  sphere  of  their  examination,  particularly  as  the  expediency  of  a 
military  establishment  must  be  ascertaine<l,  from  an  investigation,  not 
of  partial,  but  of  general  advantages,    llieir  first  inquiries  were  di- 
l-ected  to  the  climate:  for  they  would  not  favor  any  project  which  would 
expose  their  adventurous  countrymen  to  the  dangers  or  fatality  of  one 
which  was  unhealthy  or  pestilential.     The  result  of  their  inquu-ies  on 
this  subject  is  highly  satisfactory.     Cook,  Dixon,  Portlock,  Vimcou- 
ver,  and  Kotzebue,  all  represent  the  climate  of  the  Northwestern  Coast 
of  America  as  exceedingly  mild,  pleasant,  and  salubrious.      Even  to 
the  Northward  of  Cape  I^nce  of  Wales,  lat  71,  Kotzebue  says  that, 
on  the  30th  of  July,  "a  long,  trict  of  low  land  was  covemi  Miui  iuxu- 
>''  rinntvcnliit^,  and  appavontly  well  inhabited.'*  He  speaks  also  of  th« 


[  Rep.  No.  85,  3 


Tery  great  difference  between  the  Asiatic  and  American  Coasts,  a  dif- 
ference altogether  in  favor  of  t!ie  latter. 

Portlock,  speaking  of  the  climate  at  Cook's  River,  lat.  61,  ^August 
9,)  says:  "  During  the  late  stormy  weather  the  air  had  been  mild  and 
«  temperate,  and  I  am  inclined  to  think  the  climate  here  is  not  so  sc- 
*<  vere  as  has  been  generally  supposed."  The  hills  were  clothed  with 
pines  and  shrubs,  and  the  landscape  beautiful  and  picturesque.  Dixon, 
who  accompanied  Porti^ick,  complains  of  the  cold  and  damp  of  the  cli- 
mate, but  say):  ^*  In  the  early  part  of  August  it  had  become  very  mo- 
"  derate." 

Of  Prince  William^s  Sound,  lat  60,  Portlock  says:  "The  country, 
^*  after  the  snow  leaves  it,  which  is  about  the  middle  of  June,  is  plea- ' 
'*  sant  enough  ;  the  weather,  long  before  iha\':  period,  at  times,  is  very 
*^  fine  and  pleasant  and  at  other  times  exc^^cdingly  boisterous,  with 
"  constant  rain,  which  washes  the  snow  away,  and  soon  leaves  the  lower 
"  parts  clear,  and  you  immediately  perceive  vegetables  coming  forth." 
Dixon  says  that,  on  the  29dth  of  August,  he  found  the  weatiicr  mode- 
rate. 

At  Pwt  Mulgrave,  lat  59,  in  May,  he  found  the  climate  « tolerably 
<*  mild,  the  mean  of  the  thermometer  being  46." 

In  June,  at  Norfolk  Sound  57°  S',  the  mean  of  tlic  *'-■  mometer  was 
48;  winds  light;  <<  shores  abounding  in  wild  fruit.*' 

At  Port  Banks  he  says  the  appearance  of  the  country  in  the  same 
months,  was  <^  truly  pleasing  and  delightful,  and  tlie  weather  very 
»•  fine;^'  mean  of  the  thermometer  50. 

At  Queen  Charlotte's  Islands,  between  54°  24'  and  51°  42',  in  Au- 
gust the  weather  was  generally  mild  and  temperate;  mean  of  the  ther- 
mometer 54. 

Cook,  speaking  of  the  climate  of  Nootka,49°  30',  as  he  experienced 
it,  from  March  29  to  April  26,  says,  "the  weathei*  nearly  corresiwnded 
"  with  that  which  we  had  experienced  when  we  were  oiT  the  coast; 
**  We  had  fine  clear  weather  if  the  wind  was  between  North  and  West; 
*<  but  if  more  to  the  Southward,  hazy,  accompanied  with  rain.  The 
**  climate  appears  to  be  infinitely  milder  than  that  on  the  coaal  of  Ame  • 
"  rica,  under  the  same  parallels  of  latitude.  We  perceived  no  froiit  in 
"  any  of  the  low  grounds,  but  on  the  contrary,  vegetition  pi-ocecJed 
"  briskly,  for  we  saw  grass  at  this  time  upwai-ds  of  a  foot  long." 

On  the  Atlantic  coast,  in  the  same  parallels  of  latitude,  the  incle- 
mency of  the  climate  is  proverbial:  and,  although  the  daring  enterprise  of 
Famft  stimulated  by  the  love  of  science  and  the  hope  of  renown,  has 
induced  him  to  explore  that  country,  yet  it  is  a  region  of  icebergs,  famine^ 
and  eternal  fi-ost  a  place  of  horrid  sterility  and  utter  desolation. 

The  Pacific  Ocean,  through  a  space  of  seventy-six  degi-ees  of  Iati« 
IwJc,  equally  extended  on  both  sides  of  the  equator,  is  seldom  disturbed 
by  storms,  and,  throughout  this  wide  extent,  the  summer  seenjs  pcr- 
mtual.  The  voyage  of  Captain  Bligh,  of  the  Bownty,  fi-om  the  Society 
Islands  to  Timor,  in  the  East  ln<lies,  a  distance  of  five  thousand  miles, 
in  an  open  boat,  furnishes  sti-ong  evidence  tiiat  the  tranquiiitw  of  thia 
i}obl2>  Oce^u  is  uninterrupted.  - 


C  Hep.  No.  85.  ] 


8 


The  committee,  after  beiisg  satisfied  of  the  general  character  of  the 
<-Kmatc,  dii-ected  their  attention  more  particularly  to  that  part  of  it 
which  is  claimed  by  the  United  States. 

On  the  25th  of  Februai'y,  Capt  Cook,  in  his  voyage  from  tlie  Sand 
wich  Islands  to  the  Northwestern  Coast,  had  reached  lat  42°  30'  and 
long.  219.  On  the  1st  of  March  (says  he)  *^  we  had  acalm  day,  wluch 
"  was  succeeded  by  a  wind  from  the  North,  with  which  we  stood  to  the 
*'  East,  intending  to  make  land.  We  ought  to  have  been  near  it  ac- 
*'  cording  to  the  chai*ts.  Such  moderate  and  mild  weather  appeared 
**  to  us  very  extraordinary  whenwe  were  so  far  North,  and  so  near  an 
**  extensive  continent,  at  tliis  time  of  year." 

Mr.  Prevost,  the  agent  of  tlie  United  States,  whose  attention  waa 
particularly  directed  to  this  subject  by  the  Grovernment,  in  a  commu- 
nication made  by  him  to  them,  and  communicated,  by  message,  from 
the  President  to  the  House  of  Representatives,  (April  17, 1822,)  says: 
"  It  has  been  observed  by  those  exploring  this  coast,  that  the  climate 
<^  to  the  Soutliward  of  53  assum^ts  a  mildness  unknown  in  the  same 
**  latitude  en  the  Eastern  side  of  the  continent.  Without  digressing  to 
«  speculate  upon  the  cause,  I  will  merely  state  that  such  is  particularly 
«  the  fact  in  46°  16',  the  site  of  Fort  George.  The  mercury,  dur- 
*<  ingthe  Winter,  seldom  descends  below  the  freezing  point;  when  it 
"  does  so,  it  is  rarely  stationary  for  any  number  of  days,  and  the  se- 
**  verity  of  the  season  is  more  determined  by  tlie  quantity  of  water  than 
'<  by  its  congelation.  The  rains  usually  commence  with  November, 
**  ai :d  continue  to  fall  partially  until  the  latter  end  of  March  or  the  be^ 
''  ginning  of  April.  A  benign  Spring  succeeds,  •and  when  the  Summer 
"  heats  obtain,  they  are  so  tempered  with  showers  as  seldom  to^sus- 
**  pend  vegetation.  I  found  it  luxuriant  on  my  arrival,  (October  1, 
*'  1818,)  and,  during  a  fortnight's  stay,  experienced  no  diange  of  wea- 
**  tber  to  retard  its  course." 

Lewis  and  Clarke,  who  remained  here  from  November,  1 805,  to  the 
succeeding  Spring,  complain,  it  is  true,  of  the  frequent  rains,  but  it 
must  be  recollected,  that  they  experienced  no  sickness  during  that 
worst  period  of  the  year.  The  humidity  of  the  coast,  may  be  attributed 
to  physical  causes,  operating  upon  a  small  part  of  this  great  Territo- 
ry. The  vapours  of  the  ocean,  falling  upon  the  high  and  mountainous 
lands,  which  form  the  coast,  are  ai-restcd  in  their  progress,  and  des- 
cend in  copious  rains,  but  the  same  causes  produce  in  the  interior  a 
climate  of  uncommon  mildness — the  coast  being  like  an  immense 
wall,  protecting  the  rich  valleys  witliin,  frem  the  rude  blasts  of  the 
ocean.  Between  this  mountainous  ridge,  along  the  coast,  and  the  chain 
of  mountains  which  cross  the  Oregon,  at  the  lowest  falls,  lies  the  rich 
valley  of  the  Columbia.  Beyond,  and  between  this  chain  and  the 
Rocky  Mountains,  tlie  count!  y,  for  several  hundred  miles  in  lengtbt 
and  about  fiuy  wide,  is  described  by  Lewis  and  Clarke,  as  a  high  level 
plain,  in  all  its  parts  extremely  terttlc.  «  Nearly  the  whole  of  this 
»<  wide  spread  tract  (say  they)  is  covered  with  u  profui^ion  of  grass  and 
**  plants,  which  were  at  this  time  (May  16)  as  high  as  the  knee. — 
'<  Amongst  ilicm^  are  a  vai'idty  uf  t»iculeut. plants  and  roots,  acqulr^ 


tRep.  No.  35.] 


«  without  much  difliculty,  and  yielding,  not  only  a  nutritious,  hut  a  ve- 
#4  ry  agreeable  food.  The  air  is  pure  and  dry,  the  climate  quite  a« 
«<  nnld,  if  not  milder  than  the  same  ])arallels  of  latitude  in  the  Atlantic 
<<  Sl^t^es,  and  must  be  equally  healthy.  In  short,  this  district  aifoitls 
*«  many  advantages  to  settlers,  and  if  properly  cultivated,  would  yield 
«  every  object  necessary  for  the  subsistence  and  comfort  of  civilized 
«  man."  It  must  be  remembered  that  this  description  is  applied  to  a 
high  and  mountainous  plain,  elevated  several  thousand  feet  above  the 
level  of  the  ocean,  where  a  very  groat  degree  of  cold  might  have  been 
expected,  even  in  latitudes  near  the  tropics. 

To  return  to  the  country  between  the  lowest  falls  on  the  Columbia 
and  the  ocean.  As  the  committee  have  thought  it  extremely  probable, 
that  the  first  establishment  of  the  United  States,  (if  made  at  all)  would 
be  made  in  this  i*egion,  they  have  deemed  it  expedient  to  collect  some 
information  (which  they  have  gathered  principally  from  the  travels  of 
Lewis  and  Clark'j)  of  the  country  which  extends  from  the  point  where 
the  tide  water  is  terminated,  at  tlie  foot  of  the  first  rapids,  to  the  ocean, 
a  distance  of  one  hundred  and  seventy-eight  miles.  Directly  below 
the  falls,  is  an  island  of  a  mile  in  width,  and  extending  down  the  river 
three  miles;  "the  situation  high  and  open,  tlie  land  rich,  and  at  this 
'<  time  ( N  ovember  2)  covered  with  grass,  and  a  great  number  of  straw- 
*<  berry  vines.  To  this  island,  succeeded  th:'ee  small  islands,  covered 
"  with  wood."  At  a  place  where  the  mountains  receded  from  the  ri- 
ver, distant  twenty-nine  miles  from  the  termination  of  the  rapids,  tliey 
rested.  Here  tlie  river  was  two  and  a  half  miles  wide,  ♦«  the  low 
<<  grounds  were,  extensive,  and  well  supplied  with  wood."  There  they 
saw  great  numbers  of  water -fowl,  such  as  swans,  geese,  ducks,  of  va- 
rious species,  gulls,  plover,  and  the  white,  and  gray  bi-ant.  At  the 
distance  of  six  miles,  they  reached  Quicksand  river;  here  there  was 
another  island,  three  and  a  half  miles  in  length,  and  a  mile  and  a 
half  in  width;  immediately  below  which,  there  was  another  island, 
which  they  called  Diamond  island.  "  Below  Quicksand  river,  the 
^<  country  is  low,  rich,  and  thickly  wooded  on  each  side  the  Columbia." 
'the  islands  have  less  timber,  but  are  furnished  with  a  number  of  ponds, 
"near  which,  are  vast  quantities  of  water  fowls."  The  river  was 
wide,  and  many  sea  ottera  were  sporting  in  its  waters.  Diamond  isl*^ 
and  is  six  miles  long  and  three  broad,  directly  below  which,  are  two 
other  islands,  thickly  covered  with  wood.  At  this  place  tliey  were 
treated  with  a  root,  similar  to  tlie  Irish  potato,  called  Wappatoo: 
'*  roasted  until  it  becomes  soft,  it  has  an  agreeable  taste,  and  is  a  ve- 
"  ry  good  substitute  for  bread."  Seven  miles  further,  they  came  to 
another  large  island.  «*  On  the  right  shore,  is  a  fine  open  prairie,  for 
<<  about  a  mile,  back  of  which,  the  country  rises,  and  is  supplied  with 
« timber,  such  as  white  oak,  pine,  of  different  kinds."  &c.  This  isl- 
and is  nine  miles  in  length,  near  it,  are  two  smaller  islands.  Nine 
miles  further,  "  the  gnnmds  along  the  river  continue  low  and  rich; 
<'  on  the  right,  the  low  grounds  are  terminated  at  the  distance  of  five 
<*  miles,  by  a  range  of  high  hills,  covered  witli  tall  timber."  The 
game,  as  usiial,  very  abundant.  Eight  miies  beiow,  mey  reaiched  aiior 


t 


* 


[Kep.  No.  85.] 


I 


♦ 


ther  island,  which  was  "open,  with  an  abundant  grrtwth  of  grass, 
*<  with  a  number  of  ponds,"  filled  with  wild  fowl.  On  this  island, 
they  saw  many  deer.  Near  this  island,  wei-c  two  or  three  smaller 
ones.  Seven  miles  below,  they  found  the  river  a  mile  and  a  half  in 
width,  and  the  watei*  deep.  ♦*  Here  the  ri<lge  of  low  mountains,  run- 
"ning  Northwest  and  Southeast,  cross  the  river,  and  form  the  SVest- 
**  em  boundary  of  tlic  plain,  thi-ough  which  wc  have  just  passed.  Thi$ 
•<  Qivat  plain,  or  valley,  begins  above  the  mouth  of  Quicksand  river, 
<'and  is  about  sixty  miles  wide,  in  a  straight  line,  while  on  the  right 
>*  and  left,  it  extends  to  a  great  distance.  It  is  a  fertile  and  delight- 
"  ful  country,  shaded  by  thick  groves  of  tall  timber,  watered  by  small 
"  ponds,  and  running  on  both  sides  of  the  ri^er.  The  soil  is  rich,  an«l 
"  capable  of  any  species  of  culture,  but  in  the  present  condition  of  the 
"  Indians,  its  chief  production  is  the  waj)patoo  root,  which  gi*ows  spon- 
*'  taneously,  and  exclusively,  in  this  region.  Sheltered  as  it  is,  pn 
*<  both  sides,  the  tem|)eraturc  is  much  milder  than  that  of  the  sur- 
<<  I'ounding  country;  for,  even  at  this  season  of  the  year,  (November 
*<  5)  we  observed  very  little  appearance  of  frost.'* 

It  is  well  known,  tluit  these  adventurous  travellers  continued  their 
voyage  to  tlie  mouth  of  the  river,  discovering  ir:  their  progi-ess  many 
other  islands.  The  country,  as  they  ad>  anced  towards  the  ocean,  be- 
came more  mountainous,  but  wherever  the  mountains  receded  from  the 
river,  the  level  country  was  fertile  and  beautiful. 

Ca])tain  Clarke  explored  about  thirty  miles  of  coast.  South  of  the 
mouth  of  the  river;  he  gives  the  following  de«eription  of  a  view  from 
the  top  of  <\  mountain,  on  the  .summit  of  which  was  an  open  spot,  facing 
the  ocean.  "  projecting  nearly  two  milts  and  a-half  into  the  sea.  Here 
"  (says  he)  one  of  the  most  delightful  views  in  nature  presents  itself. 
"  Immediately  in  front  is  the  ocean,  which  breaks  with  fury  on  the 
*'  coast,  fi^om  the  rocks  of  Cape  Disappointment,  as  far  as  the  eye  can 
'<  discern  to  the  Northwest,  and  against  the  highlands  and  irregular 
"piles  oflrocks,  which  diversify  the  slioi-e  to  the  Southeast  To  this 
"  boistei"ou8  scene,  the  Columbia,  with  its  tributary  waters,  widening 
"  into  bays  as  it  approaches  the  ocean,  and  studde<'  on  both  sides  with 
"the  Chinnook  and  Clatsop  villages,  forms  a  :^ arming  contrast: 
"  while  immediately  beneath  our  fe«t,  are  sti*etched  the  rich  prairies, 
"enlivened  by  thi-ee  beautiful  sti'cams,  which  conduct  the  eysto  small 
« lakes  at  the  foot  of  the  hills." 

Vancouver  describes  the  apijearjince  of  the  coast,  lat.  46°  14'  with 
animation  and  elegance.  "  I'he  country  now  before  us,  (says  he)  prc- 
"sented  a  most  luxuriant  landscape,  and  was  probably  not  a  little 
«  heightened  in  beauty  by  the  weather  that  prevailed.  (April  27.)  Tho 
"  more  intei'ior  par*s  were  somewhat  elevated,  and  agreeably  diversi- 
"  fied  with  hills,  from  which  it  gradually  descended  to  the  shore,  and 
"terminated  in  a  sandy  beach.  The  whole  had  the  appearance  of  a 
"  continued  forest,  extending  as  far  North  as  the  eye  could  reach,  which 
"  made  me  very  solicitous  to  find  a  port,  in  the  vicinity  of  a  country 
"presenting  so  delightful  a  pi-ospectof  fertility;"  which,  after  attempt- 
ing in  vain,  itigretUng  his  riisuppuiniment,  he  "itsumed  ids  route 
"  along  the  shores  of  this  pleasant  country." 


r  Rep.  No,  35,  j 


vey  of  the  mouth  of  S  e  ^"4"  ^.T^"^''^^  ^'^^  ««-ected  a  partial  sur- 
countrj.,  about  a  nverVhich  hi  ?•.''*  ^^.'  ^^^^O  «peaking if  Sj 
Georgp  Young,  says,  '  The  If.?  f'«^"'S"i«''«'i  ^y  thr„a„.c?o  su' 
'•  ceasing  until  da/jiffht  the  S*:'^^'''»**''>:^  '*  rained  wi  hout 
;and  g^atly  enriched  tfeV^^^^^^^^^  ^'»9!.'  ,^vas  very  pleasant, 

" ^y-    From  tlie  banks  if  thoT^,       .     beautiful  suri-oun<ling coun- 


-Bcs  o,  loenvcr  afforded  shelter  tnviiu  ,P^  lUeinai-shj 

"  very  large  flocks,  and  ducks  i^?n        ^,'^'^'  ^vhich  flew  about  ij 
ascended  the  river  for  thoZS  "  abundance."    Mv.  Brouirhton 

1y-four  miles  from  it  e    ranc  "^mi  Tf""?  ^  '"«  'Estimate,  o^d^ 
«»untry,  particularly  upcjr?he%ma  I^         *'  '''*'?*'''"^  ""^  •nagnific?„t 
£--  «.e  g.a[  bly,  ^^ttoS/t' 1^1^ ^^^ 

:f  teiSS;:?^^^^^  -ith  a  general  view 

"unifbmil^been  simllafto  tK^ml:?  ^^^^^^^  ^^e  vessel,  ia.tg 
eluded  any  comiietent  knowledl  £ir    '  5"?"ntercil  at  sea,  pre! 
r^i^««'"Po«ing  the  C^^'^-e^.l^^^^^  The  trees  pAi- 

"tea  large  size,  but  were  \mcnuJ!  .,  "^Ae'-ent  kinds,  growinc 
^^  water  siJe  were  found  rTanr'^'?^  ^"^  those  of  Nootka.  ifear  thf 
;;the river,  beside  these,  tKak  S' 'f  ^^^ ""'  f "«  ^'^t'*"^*  "P 
;  were  produced,  with  many  o^m^^  T^  ^"'"/"*  strawberry  tree 
**tlcn,en  who  made  a  short  cxr,4inn-!  ^T^'  unknown  to  the  gen- 
;;on ly  able  to  judge  of  the  indS'o^^s'n^  T  'T^'^'  ^"''  ^'»«  ^^^e 
'skins  the  native^  wore  or  bS.f  1  ?  ^f  "'^^'^  ""''  ^"""aJs.  by  the 

;  hose  found  on  otl.er  pai^  oWLtJ^^'lV  *r1  T"^  «''^"«'' *» 
"cured,  were  large  biwvn  rrano!  ^  -I       ''®  ^"'''^  *bat  were  pro, 
"geese,  ducks,  paJ^S'"d«n-'  ''''"*^  ^'^«»«'  ^'"te  and  biiwn 
"that  couldnot  be  taSf  *  AU  ZT"'  ""  J'"'*'^''  «*"  «thers  were  seen 
-the  brown  cranes,  p;^';^  ^c^ifjTj'T^^t^''  »»««"»*  ^^cepth.g 
;  aboimd  with  fishJfLn  tt  su^^^^^^^^      ^^^    The  Wseemed  t! 
of  two  sorts  of  salmon,  both  vefv  i- 2     ''  Provided,  consisting 
very  fine  flavor,  with  silver  breanl'  '•'""S^?  «^  large  size  and 
"mas;  of  these  four  last  sortJ  «nm«   *  ^'^'""ogs,  flat  fish,  and  soiedi- 
-skirts  of  the  woodsXXj  a^L'"''^  T^^'^  ^"  the  seine.     The 
-semblingin  appearJceaud  tas  e    tf?^^' •'*  ^i-cen  vegetable,  re! 
"  bulbous  root  abiut  the  size  .mf'*  *''?.  t"rnip  top  when  younff.     A 
-  like  mealy  potato,  wilHh^  g^olrd"  ivv  '"  7 T.'  ^'  "*«  ™-^ 

''thcfl.twehads.^en^-tS:J':;^SoSK 


[  Hep.  No.  85.  J  j 

"niastly  a  stiff  rich  clay,  capable,  to  all  appearance,  of  beiiiic  made 
♦*vci-y  productive;  that  on  the  high  land  aniongnt  the  pine  Sees,  ft 
**  black  iniiuld,  seemingly  composed  of  decayed  vegetables." 

The  Chairman  of  the  Committee  has  been  favored  with  a  commir> 
mcation  from  Major  Alexander  S.  Jhwiks,  u  gallant  and  intdHigent 
officer,  now  in  the  artillery  service  of  the  United  States,  who  in  early 
lile  made  several  voyages  to  this  coast  Si^aking  of  the  climate  at  the 
mouth  of  the  Columbia,  he  says,  it  is  ♦•good,  m  growth,  fir  and  its 
"  varieties;  no  hardwood,  excep;  you  so  call  alder.  We  found  araone 
♦*  the  drift  wood,  beech,  bass,  Ace.  (very  rarely)  maidc."  Again,  *<  with 
••  regard  to  soil,  I  should  think  it  better  than  generally  represented. 
*  The  natives  procui-e  a  root,  which  they  call  Wapputoo,  about  the  size 
"ol  a  wallnut,  and  when  baked,  a  very  tolerable  substitute  for  potato.'' 
>'  Ihc  shores  of  the  river  abound  with  game,  as  moose,  deer,  bear.  &c 
*•  and  Its  waters  with  fish—salmon,  sturgeon,  &c." 

Mr.  Prevost,  in  his  letter  to  the  Secretary #f  State,  says,  "The  soil 
''  18  good;  all  the  cereal  gramina  and  tuberous  plants,  may  be  cultiva- 
"  ted  with  advantage;  and  the  waters  abound  in  salmon,  stureeon  and 
**  other  varieties  offish."  ° 

"The  ocean  teems  with  otter,  the  seal,  and  the  whale;  while  the 
«  mam  land  a^rds,  in  innumerable  quantities,  the  common  otter,  the 
*'  bear,  the  buffalo,  and  the  whole  varietv  of  deer." 

The  Committee  have  collected  some  'facts,  respecting  the  soil  and 
appearance  of  this  coast  north  of  the  Oregon  or  Columbia  river  Van 
jyuvcr,  after  passing  the  mouth  of  tliis  river,  as  before  related,*  spoki 
Captjun  Gray  of  Boston,  then  on  the  Coast,  and  who,  while  command! 
ing  the  Washington  m  1789,  had  re-discovered  the  lost  strait  of  De 
tuca,  which  he  explored  for  fifty  miles.  After  receiving  from  Gray 
intormation  of  its  position,  he  continued  his  course  Nortlif  and  entered 
It  in  lat  48»  37,  (according  to  Gray's  reckoning,  wWch  Vancou^ 
supposes  t«o  far  North,  )..nS  places  in  48°  234';  Imving  pS  Ta! 
tooche's  Island,  connected  with  the  promontory  of  Cap^Classet  (tL 
Cape  Flattery  of  Cook, )  by  a  ledge  o(  rocks.  ^  ^  ^^^^ 

This  island  he  describes  as  «'half  a  league  in  circuit,  bearine* 
vei^ant  aiid  foilile  appearance,  without  tr?es."  He  contin^d  hit 
course  up  this  celebr  M  strait  on  its  South  side.  "ThesE  (hi 
*;says)  on  each  side  t^cstrait,  ai*  of  moderate  height;  and  the  d^ght* 
«•  ful  serenity  ol  the  weather,  permitted  our  seeing  this  inlet t»  erreK 

f hftn^^'i -S^  pcrpendicu  m.|y  on  beaches  of  sand  or  stones.  From 
^  the  topol  tliesc  cliffy  eminences,  the  land  app..ared  to  take  afurth™ 
"gentle  moderate  ascent,  and  was  entirely  covered  with  trees  cSv 
"of  the  pine  tribe,  until  the  forest  reached  a  range  of  high  cra^^J 
^•mountains,  which  seemed  to  rise  from  the  woodland  counti^f^J 
"very  abrupt  manner,  with  a  few  scattered  trees  on  their  steril^sides 
"and  their  summits  covered  with  snow."  Latitude  at  nS^48o  ig'I 
He  anchored  at  night,  j«>ar  a  sandy  point  of  land,  which  he  called  JvX; 


"of  most 


.^"  ,-       . J  r""" "*  ***"">  w^iicn ne  caiiea jvvy/i* 

;*i  r"iYp  ^  'T^  "Y  ^''*^'*  ^"^  ^^  ushered^in  by  a  mominff 
t  ddightful  pleasant  weather."  -  ys\  faund  the  surface  o7thf 


8  [Rep.  No.  85.] 

"  sea  a!mas(  coveicd  w ith  aquatic  birds,  of  various  kinds.  Tlie  tirsi 
"  opening  to  the  S.  K.  ap^H-ared  to  be  I'ornii'd  by  two  big-b  bluHls;  tliP 
**  elevated  land  within  them,  seemingly  at  a  considerable  distance.  It 
«  pi-oved,  however,  to  be  a  close  and  compact  shoir,  the  a|>paiTnt  va- 
''  cant  space  being  occupied  by  a  very  low  sandy  bcacli,  ott' which  ex- 
<*  tended  a  Hat,  ol"  very  shallow  soundings.  P'roni  lience,  we  nuule  tin*, 
«  best  ofourway  for  land,  appearing  like  an  island  off  the  other  sup|)osed 
"  opening;  from  \^  hose  summit,  m  liich  apjsearcd  easy  of  access,  there 
"  was  little  doubt  of  our  ascertaining  whether  the  coast  afforded  any 
"  port  within  i-each  of  the  day's  excursion."  Here  this  plain  and  unso- 
phisticated sailor,  breaks  fortli  in  a  strain  of  descriptive  clo(picnce, 
which  nothing  but  tiic  transcendant  beauty  of  the  pr<»spect  could  have 
inspired.  "On  landing  (says  he)  on  the  West  end  of  the  suppose'^ 
«'  island,  and  iLscemling  its  eminence,  which  was  nearly  a  pcriMMulici. 
<<  lar  cliff,  our  attention  was  inunediately  called  to  a  landscape,  al- 
*<  most  as  enchantingly  beautiful  as  the  most  elegantly  iinishcd pleasure  • 
*'  grounds  in  Europe.  Fmni  the  height  we  wore  now  upon,  our  con- 
"  jectures,  of  this  land  being  an  island,  situated  before  the  entrance  of 
«  an  opening  in  the  main  land,  were  confirmed.  The  summit  of  this 
'<  island  presented  nearly  an  horizontal  surface,  interspersed  with 
**  some  inequalities  of  groimd,  which  produced  a  beautiful  variety,  on  an 
*<  extensive  lawn  covered  with  luxuriant  gi-ass,  and  diversified  with  an 
**  abundance  of  llowere.  To  the  Northwestward,  was  a  copicc  of  pine 
"  trees,  and  shrubs  of  various  sorts,  that  seemed  as  if  it  had  been  plant- 
«  cd  for  the  sole  purjwse  of  pi"otecting  from  tlie  N,  W.  winds,  this  de- 
"lightful  meadow,  over  which,  were  jn'onuscnously  scattered  a  fcw 
«  clumps  of  trees,  that  would  have  puzzled  the  most  ingenious  design- 
"crof  pleasure  grounds,  to  have  arranged  more  agreeably.  Whilst 
«<we  stopijcd  to  c(m template  these  several  beauties  of  nature,  in  apros- 
**  jiect  no  less  pleasing  than  unexjiccted,  we  gathered  some  gooscbemcs 
♦♦  and  roses^  in  a  state  of  considerable  forwai'dness.     Casting  our  eyes 

*  along  the  shoi*e,  wc  had  the  satisfaction  of  seeing  it  much  broken,  and 
<<  forming,  to  all  appearance,  many  navigable  iidets.  The  inlet  now 
"  before  iis,  did  not  seem  so  extensive  as  we  had  reason  to  believe  it 
« to  be  from  the  ships;  yet,  there  was  a  little  doubt  of  its  proving  suf- 
*<  ficiently  secure  and  convenient  for  all  ouri)urposes.     We,  thei-efore, 

*  pi"oceeded  to  its  examination,  and  found  its  entrance  to  be  about  a 
"league  wide,  having  regular  good  soundings,  from  10  fathoms  close 
"to  the  shores,  to  30,  35,  and  38  fathoms  in  the  middle,  without  any  ap- 
« jiarent  danger  fmm  rocks  or  shoals.  B'rcsh  water,  how  ever,  seemed 
*'  hitherto  a  scarce  commodity;  and  yet,  from  the  general  face  of  the 
»  country,  a  deficiency,  is  this  respect,  was  not  to  be  apprehended. 
<*  The  shoi-es  of  the  harbor  were  of  a  moderate  height;  its  western  side 
"bounded,  at  no  very  great  distance,  by  a  ridge  of  high  craggy  moun- 
«*  tains,  covered  with  snow,  were,  as  I  conceive,  connected  with  tlio 
«  mountain  we  took  for  Mount  Olympus.  In  quest  of  the  only  great 
**  object  necessary  for  constituting  this  one  of  the  finest  harboi's  in 

*<  success,  I  suddenly  fell  in  w  ith  an  excellent  stream  of  vcri^inc  wa- 


[Rep.  No.  85.3  9 

yer.  Tlio  design  of  our  excursion  was  thus  happily  accomplished; 
"andjilfcp  taking  some  little  renrshmont,  we  returned  towards  the 
•♦«  lips,  aiui  arrived  on  hoard  ahout  inidniglit,  |>erl'ectly  satisfied  with 
''the  success  of  our  cxpe<lition,  and  amply  rewarded  for  our  labor." 

•'  On  the  nextday,  (May  2d)  a  light  breeze  springing  up,  we  weighed 
"and  steered  tor  the  port  we  had  discovenMl  the  preceding  day.  The  dc- 

•  ♦  lightful  serenity  of  the  weather  greatly  aided  tijc  beautiliil  scenery  that 
"  was  now  presented;  the  surfaccof  the  sea  was  pei-fcctly  smooth,  and  the 
••r»»untry  hefoi'e  us  exiiibited  every  thing  tliat  bounteous  nature  could 
"be  exjiectcd  to  draw  into  one  iM)int  of  riew.  As  we  had  no  reason  to 
••imagine  that  this  country  had  ever  been  indebted  for  any  of  its  de- 
"corations  to  the  hand  of  man,  I  could  not  possibly  believe,  that  any 
"uncidtivated  counti-y  had  over  been  discovered  exhibiting  so  rich  a 
"picture.  The  land  which  interrupted  tlie  horison,  between  the  N. 
"  w.  and  the  Northern  c|uarters,  seemed,  iis  already  mentioned,  to  be 
"much  broken;  from  whence  its  P^astern  extent  round  to  the  S.  E. 
«wa8  bounded  by  a  ridge  of  snowy  mountains,  appearing  to  lie  nearly 
"JH  a  North  and  South  direction,  on  which.  Mount  Baker  rose  con- 
"  spici.ously:  rematkahle  for  its  height,  and  the  snowy  mountains  that 
"  stretch  Irom  its  base  to  the  North  and  South.  Between  us  and  this 
"snowy  range,  the  land,  which  on  the  sea-shoi-e  termin-ited  like  that 
"  we  had  lately  passed,  in  low  perpendicular  cliflTs,  or  on  b.^ches  of 
^  sand  or  stone,  rose  fierc  in  a  very  gentle  ascent,  and  was  well  cov- 
"eml  witli  a  variety  of  stately  foi-est  ti-ees.  These,  however,  did 
'« not  conceal  the  whole  face  of  the  country  in  one  uninterrupted  wilder- 
"  ncss,  b.it  pleasingly  clothed  its  eminences,  and  chequered  the  valleys; 

presenting    in  many  dim  tions,  extensive  spaces  that  wore  the  ap- 
"  pearance  of  Iiaving  been  cleared  by  art,  like  the  beautiful  island  we 

•  had  visited  the  day  before.    As  we  passed  along  tlie  shore,  neap  one 
'•  ot  these  cljarming  spots,  the  tracks  of  deer,  or  of  some  such  animal. 

were  very  numerous,  and  flattered  us  with  the  hope  of  not  wanting 
"  reh-eshment3  of  that  natui-e,  whilst  we  remained  in  this  quarter. 

"A  picture  so  pleasing  could  not  faU  to  call  to  our  remembrance 
"  certam  delightful  and  beloved  situations  in  old  England.    Thus  we 
"proceeded,  without  meeting  any  obstructions  to  our  i^i ogress;  which, 
« though  not  rapid,  brought  us,  before  noon,  abreast  of  the  stream,  that 
"discharges  its  water  from  the  Western  shore,  nearly  five  mUes  witWn 
"  the  entrance  of  the  harbor,  which  I  distinguished  by  tlie  name  of 
"  Port  Discovery,  after  the  ship.    There  we  moored  in  34  fathoms, 
«*  muddy  bottom,  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile  from  the  shore.    The  en- 
« trance  of  this  harbor  is  formed  by  low  projecting  points,  extending  on 
"  each  side,  from  the  high  woodland  cliffs,  which  in  general  hound  the 
"coast;  bearing  by  compass  N.  48  W.  to  North  54  W.  in  a  line  with 
«  two  corresponding  points  IVom  the  island  already  described,  lyinic 
"off  this  harbor.     Had  this  insular  production  of  nature  been  de- 
«•  signed  by  the  most  able  Engineer,  it  could  not  have  been  placed  more 
"  happily  for  the  protection  of  the  port,  not  only  from  the  N.  W.  winds, 
'  to  tfie  violence  of  which.  It  would  be  otherwise  greatly  exposed.  b«t 


10 


[Rep.  No.  85.] 


"against  all  attempts  of  an  enemy,  when  properly  fortified;  and  hence 
"  I  called  It  Protection  Island." 

Three  or  four  leagues  fi-om  Port  Discovery,  the  latitude  of  a  point 
of  land  was  ascertained  to  be  48°  T  30";  beyond,  a  large  inlet  pi-^nt- 
ed  itselt  "As  we  advanced,  the  country  seemed  gradually  to  irapi-ove 
Vm  beauty.  1  he  cleared  spots  were  more  numerous,  and  of  larger 
f«  extent;  and  the  remote  lofty  mountains,  covered  with  snow,  reflected 
I  greater  lustre  on  the  fertUe  productions  of  the  less  elevated  coun- 
if  tiy." 

>  D^T-^®''  *^°»<^^"^e8 »»«  account  of  the  country  in  the  neighborhood 
ot  Port  Discovery,  witii  several  observations  touching  its  soil  and  pro. 
ductjons.  ♦'This  country  (says  he,)  may  generally  be  considered  of  a 
♦'moderate  height,  although  bounded  on  the  West  side  by  mountains 
"covered  with  snow,  to  which  the  land  from  the  water's  edge  rises 
VHi  a  pleasing  diversity,  by  hills  of  gradual  ascent  The  fnow  on 
"these  hills  pi-obably  dissolves  as  the  Summer  advances,  for  pine  trees 

M  ei  e  piwluced  on  tlieir  very  summits.  On  the  sea-shore,  the  land 
"generally  terminated  in  low  sandy  cliffs;  though  in  some  spaces  of 
<>  considei-able  extent,  it  ran  neai-ly  level  from  high  water  mark.  The 
«<  soil,  for  the  most  part,  is  a  light  sandy  loam,  in  several  placesof  verr 

cimsiderable  depth,  and  abundantly  mixed  >.ith  decayed  vegetables*. 
"1  lite  vigor  and  luxuriance  of  its  productions  proved  it  to  be  a  rich  fer- 

«Wemoul4,  whichpossiblymigiit  be  considerably  improved  Tiytheaddi- 
■  won  of  caJcai-eous  matter  contained  in  the  marrow  stone,  that  present- 
"  editscltm  several  places.  This  country,  regai-ded  in  an  agricultu- 
ral l»oint  of  view,  I  should  conceive,  is  capable  of  high  imMovement, 
'notwithstanding  the  soU  in  general  maybe  considered  to  be  light 
'« and  sandy.  Its  spontaneous  productions  in  the  vicinity  of  the  wwSs, 
'aie  nearly  the  same,  and  grow  in  equal  luxuriance  with  those  under 
a  simUar  paraUel  in  Eu»"ope;  favoring  the  hoiie,  that,  if  nutritious 
exotics  wei-e  introduced,  and  carefully  attended  to,  they  would  suc- 
"ceed  in  the  highest  degree.  The  mildness  of  the  climate,  and  the 
"lorwardnessof  every  species  of  plants,  affonled  strong  grounds  in 
"  support  ol  this  ojpinion. 

"The  interruptions  we  experienced  in  the  general  serenity  of  the 
"weather,  were  pi-obably  no  more  than  were  absolutely  requisite  in 
"  tlie  spring  of  the  year,  to  bring  forward  the  annual  productions. 
?M  1.^^*'^.**^"^®*^  with  no  violence  of  wind,  and  the  rain  which 
« tell,  altliough  disagreeable  to  travellers,  was  not  so  heavy  as  to  beat 
"down  and  destroy  the  firm  efforts  of  vcgetatipn." 

"What  the  low  country  before  us,  toward  the  range  of  snowy  moun- 
"  tains,  may  pi-oduce,  remains  for  future  investigation;  but,  judging 
"Irom  what  we  had  seen,  it  seemed  more  than  probable,  that  those 
"natural  canals  of  the  sea,  wind  in  various  directions;  and  that  they 
"  ai-e  capable  of  affording  great  advantages  to  commercial  pursuits,  by 
"opening  communications  with  parts  of  the  interior  country  commo- 
«  dioiLHly  and  delightfully  situated.  The  great  depth  of  water  may  be 
ottered  as  an  insuperable  objection;  yet,  on  a  more  minute  examina- 
-  uon,  y\  is  iiKeiy  ihut  many  eligible  and  convenient  stopping  places 


<( 


[  Rep.  No.  85.  ] 


11 


''might  be  found,  fop  the  security  of  such  vessels  as  would  necessarily 
•'be  employed  in  those  occupations." 

Hitherto,  Vancouver's  course  up  the  strait  had  been  S.  W.  On  the 
19th  of  May,  he  entered  Admiralty  Inlet,  one  branch  of  which  has 
received  the  name  of  Possession  Sound;  his  progress  was  retarded  by 
the  fracture  of  the  foret»psail  yard;  this  accident  l«d  to  the  examina- 
tion of  the  other  spars,  several  of  which  were  ascertained  to  be  de- 
fective. "  It  was  a  very  fortunate  circumstance,  (says  he, )  that  these 
"defects  were  discovered,  in  a  country  abounding  with  materials  to 
«  which  we  could  resort;  having  only  to  make  our  choice,  fh)m  amongst 
"  thousands  of  the  finest  spars  the  world  produces." 

Speaking  of  the  country  about  this  inlet  he  says,  « to  describe  the 
«  beauties  of  this  region  will,  on  some  future  occasion,  be  a  very 
«  grateful  task  to  the  pen  of  a  skilful  panegyrist  The  serenity  of 
**  the  climate,  the  innumerable  pleasing  landscapes,  and  the  abundant 
''  fertility  that  unassisted  nature  puts  forth,  require  only  to  be  enrich- 
'*  ed  by  the  industry  of  man  witli  villages,  mansions,  cottages,  and 
•<  other  buildings,  to  render  it  the  most  lovely  country  that  can  be 
'*  imagincdi  whilst  the  labor  of  the  inhabitants  would  be  amply  re- 
"  warded  m  the  bounties  which  nature  seems  ready  to  bestow  on  cul- 
**  tivation."  , 

It  is  impossible  for  ...e  Committee,  within  the  limits  which  they 
L^ve  prescribed  to  themselves,  to  follow  this  excellent  navigator  in  his 
adventurous  course  along  these  waters.  It  is  sufficient  to  say,  that  he 
ascertained,  that,  in  the  climate,  soil,  productions,  and  face  of  the 
country  which  |he  afterwards  examined  to  the  South,  there  was  a  great 
similarity  to  that  which  he  had  already  examined  and  described;  that 
the  Southern  extremity  of  these  waters  called  Puget's  Sound,  was  in 
lat  47°  3',  and  approached  the  waters  of  the  Columbia, 'with;  i  the 
distancej)f  30  or  40  geographical  miles,  and  more  nearly  to  the  wa- 
ters of  Whidbey's  bay  on  the  ocean,  between  the  mouth  of  the  Colum- 
bia and  the  entrance  of  De  Fuca's  strait,  enclosing  more  than  two 
thirds  of  the  country,  on  the  ocean  between  the  river  and  the  straits, 
forming  a  great  peninsula,  the  advantage**  of  which,  if  occupied  by  a 
eivilwed  nation,  (if  the  writer  is  to  be  believed,)  transcend  those  of 
any  other  country  in  the  world. 

Vancouver  proceeded  Northward,  and  entered  the  Gulf  of  Georgia, 
where  he  found  a  desolate  and  barren  country,  and  a  rocky  and  iron- 
bound  coast  for  some  distance,  beyond  which  the  country  improved, 
and  resembled  in  some  degree  that  which  he  had  first  examined;  but 
farther  North  it  again  resumed  its  barren  aspect.  He  ascertained  the 
insularity  of  the  land  in  which  Nootka  is  situated,  (and  which  now 
bears  his  name,)  by  sailing  round  it  through  the  Gulf  of  Georgia, 
Johnson's  Strait,  and  Queen  Charlotte's  Sound.  In  situation,  thi^  Isl- 
and resembles  Long  Island,  in  the  state  of  New  York,  being  separa- 
ted from  the  continent  like  that,  by  straits  and  sounds.  Before  his  ar- 
rival at  Nootka  h«i  exploredFitzhugli's  Sound,  furtlter  North. 

Major  Brooks  sa^s  of  Ue  Fuca^s  strait,  «  it  presents  a  noble  en- 
"  trance,  of  more  than  half  a  degree  in  widtl),  which  it  carries  about 


19 


t  Rep.  No.  85.  ] 


<*  sixty  milcsj  when  it  suddenly  nari-ows  at  h  place  called  by  Vah- 
<«  couver,  New  Dungeness,  whei-e  is  a  pi-etty  little  harbor,  and  (if  1 
*k  recollect  nght,)  a  very  good  site  for  forUfication.  But  we  must 
"return  to  its  entrance.  On  the  right  or  Southernmost  side,  is  an  is!- 
f* «nd  ncm-  tliQ  main  land,  which  is  the  summer  residence  of  a  large 
'♦  ti-ibe,  know;^  ^  me  only  by  the  name  of  its  Chief,  (Utica;)  just  with- 
^  m  18  good  aiHJjorage  in  a  small  cove,  but  the  Spaniards  seem  to  have 
*«ch(wen  the  Northernmostshoi-e,  where  just  opposite  is  another  cove, 
<«  which  they  liave  named  Port  St  Juan,  and  when  I  was  there  a  rem. 
nant  ot  a  cruf  ifix  was  to  be  seen,  but  on  this  side  we  saw  no  natives. 

!       J  i!"l?^      "***  J^*"**^*^^  ^"^^'  ^^*^*'  o"Iy  too  deep,  shores  smooUi 

"and  bold,  no,  i-ocks,  and  the  combined  navies  of  the  world  might 

"traverse  hei-e  in  safety,  and  sea  room;  but  having  passed  new 

**  Dungeness,  you  sail  as  in  a  smooth  beautiful  river,  continually  pass- 

"ing  creeks,, and  now  and  then  a  fresh  water  brook.    The  passage 

"  inclinmg  with  a  large  curve  t»ward  N.  W.  after  passing  Georgia 

«  bound,  where  the  navigation  assumes  a  different  character."   Major 

Brooks,  after  giving  some  general  account  of  the  navigation  rouhd 

Vancouver's  Island,  continues,  "  but  to  return  to  my  Egyi)t.    Our 

'!  '"""P®™^»t  ^^!'  cruising  this  strait  (De  Fuca's)  was  to  find  hard 

1  wood  for  reimirs;  the  cour|e  of  many  a  floating  leaf  was  followed, 

until  m  Pi^»s  cove  we  found  oakwood.     Tiie  cove  a  large  com- 

«  modious  harbor  for  a  fleet     The  shores  most  beautiful,  soil,  (where 

tlie  bears  had  turned  it  up  in  search  of  roots,)  ready  to  melt  in  its 

own  nchness.    Game  m  absolut*  profusion.    Salmon  to  be  4iad  for 

«  knocking  on  the  head  with  sticks,  in  the  shallows  of  the  brook  where 

"  th«iy  ran  up  to  spawn.    Here  are  several  large  deserted  villages, 

V.  a^^'^^^  few  natives.    The  climate,  (September  and  part  of  Octo. 

oer,)  18  the  mildest  of  that  which  prevails  in  New  England." 

Th©  Committee,  after  investigating  the  character  of  the  soil,  and 

the  nature  of  tlie  productions  of  this  country,  dii-ected  their  attention 

to  Its  general  geographical  character,  and  paiiicularly  to  its  rivers 

^nd  waters.     Pursuing  its  natural  features,  tliis  region  may  be  pro- 

perly  distributed  into  four  divisions.  ©  /      f 

,  First,  the  peninsula  last  described,  comparatively  of  small  extent 

S?"S1"k*''1^'*1:*]'  •*/  ^*  ^"^"'«  «^^t'  on  t'»e  East  and  partly  on 
tft©  Smith  by  the  Admiralty  inlet  branching  into  Possession  and  Pu- 
get  8  Sounds  and  other  waters,  and  enclosing  Whidhcy's  Island;  and 
partlv  on  thj  South  by  lands  watei-cd  by  the  Columbia,  and  partly  by 
Whidbey  s  bay;  on  the  West  by  the  ocean  on  which  it  lies,  for  about 
two  thirds  of  the  distance  between  the  Columbia  and  De  Fuca's  strait 
Ihe  waters  w  .ch  bound  this  peninsula  on  the  North  and  East  are  of 
great  depth,  generally  free  of  rocks,  with  a  muddy  and  tenacious  bot- 
torn,  aflbrdmg  man^  safe  anchoring  places  and  harbors. 

Ihe  next  region  is  watered  by  the  Columbia  and  its  tributaries,  and 
compris^  the  rich  valley  which  bears  the  name  of  the  river-bounded 
on  tje  West  by  tiie  mountainous  lands  which  divide  it  from  the  ocean: 
on  the  South  by  the  Mej^ican  line;  on  the  East  by  a  chain  of  highlands, 
raiiaing  ponuici  wiiii  tfid  Rocky  Mountaiiis,  thi-ough  which  the  river 


£fiep.  No.  85.] 


^ 

■--■>-!> 


breaks;  on  the  N6rthby  tlic  possessions  of  Great  Britain.  Through  tlie 
whole  of  this  region,  being  one  hundred  and  seventy-eight  miles  from 
the  ocean  *Jie  foot  of  Uie  rapids,  tl»e  tide  flows,  and  the  greater  river 
is  naviji;  for  small  vessels.  To  the  month  of  the  Multnomah  on& 
hundred  u  ^A  twenty-five  miles  fi-om  the  otean,  it  is  navigable  for  all 
vessels  which  can  enter  it  from  the  ocean.  It  is  supposed  that  th« 
larger  navigation  may  be  extended  to  the  mojith  of  Quicksand  rivett 
thirty -three  miles  further.  The  Multnomah,  the  great  Southern  tribi^ 
utary  of  the  Columbia,  which  is  supposed  to  intersect  the  Mexican 
line,  is  ascertained  to  be  navigable  for  the  distance  of  fourteen  miles, 
ft)*-  ships  of  any  size,  being  nearly  thirty  feet  in  depth. 

The  third  region  is  the  elevated  plain  between  the  highlands,  which 
bound  the  Columbia  valley  on  the  East,  and  is  extended  to  the  dividing 
line  which  separates  the  waters  of  the  Columbia  from  those  of  the 
Missouri  in  the  Rocky  Mountains.  This  plain  is  watered  in  every  dU 
rection  by  the  branches  of  the  Columbia,  and  is  celebrated  in  the  Tra- 
vels df  Lewis  and  Clarke,  as  a  region  peculiarly  genial  to  horses. 
««The  horse  (they  say)  is  confined  principally  to  the  nations  inhabit- 
'<  mg  the  Great  Plains  of  Columbia,  extending  from  lat.  40  to  50  N»i 
«an»l  occupying  the  tract  of  territory  lying  between  the  Rocky  Moun- 
« tains,  and  a  range  of  mountains  which  pass  the  Columbia  river 
*<  about  the  Great  Falls.  Fi-ee  tribes  possess  them  in  immense  num- 
^'beiN.  They  appear  to  be  of  an  excellent  i-ace,  lofty,  elegantly  formed, 
*♦  active,  and  durable.  Many  of  them  appear  like  fine  English  cour* 
"  sers  and  resemble  in  flcetness  and  bottom  the  best  blooded  horses  of 
"Virginia.  The  natives  suftci-  tlicm  to  run  at  large  in  the  plains,  the 
"  grass  of  which  affoi-ds  them  tlieir  only  Winter  subsistence;  their  mas- 
•<tcrs  taking  no  trouble  to  lay  in  a  Winter  store  for  them;  notwith- 
"  standing,  they  will,  unless  much  exercised,  fatten  on  the  dry  gi-ass  af* 
«  foi-ded  bythe  plains  during  tlic  winter.  Whether  tl»e  horse  was  original- 
<'  ly  a  native  of  this  country  or  not.  the  soil  and  theclimate  appear  to  be 
«  perfectly  well  adapted  to  the  nature  of  this  animal.  Horses  are  said 
"to  be  found  wild  in  many  parts  of  this  extensive  country.  An  ele- 
"  gant  horse  may  be  purchased  of  the  natives  for  a  few  beads  or  other 
"paltiy  trinkets,  which,  in  the^United  States,  would  not  cost  more 
**  than  one  or  two  dollars.  The  abundance  and  cheapness  of  horses, 
<<  will  be  extremely  advantageous  to  those  who  may  hereafter  attempt 
*'  the  fur  trade  to  the  East  Indies,  by  the  way  of  Columbia  river,  and 
"the  Pacific  ocean." 

Wild  sheep  are  also  found  in  this  region,  and  on  the  coast:  Lewis 
and  Clarke  say  "  The  sheep  is  found  in  manv  places,  but  mostly  in  the 
"  timbered  parts  of  the  Rocky  Mountains.  They  live  in  greater  nuni- 
"bers  on  the  chain  of  mountains,  forming  the  commencement  of  the 
"  woody  country  on  the  coast.  We  have  seen  only  the  skins  of  these 
•"animals,  which  the  natives  dress  with  the  wool,  and  the  blankets 
"  which  they  manufacture  from  the  wool.  The  ahimal,  from  this  evi- 
"  dence,  appears  to  be  of  the  size  of  our  common  sheep,  of  a  white  colon 

"  to  that  of  our  domestic  sheep." 


14 


r  Bep.  No.  88. 3 


^The  foiwth  divhion  is  the  nmiintiuiioiis  line  of  com*  alonir  flie  oa,« 
ttelinerf  Mexican  wrntories  to  the  mouth  of  the  Golumhi*.  On  wme 

S^p-thi^-verSotnTe'Sn^iNSl'"'*"'  "«""  -"-'«« 
»»  uw  o^  ao  aidiculty  that  its  occupation  would  not  Im  nm(lii/>«iv»  ^e 

"  S?uto^W^^J?p'*Tf^^^  ""  **•*  ^'^^h  ««»«»  »»«»  those  on  the 

u  ^y-^  ***™  *^'*'"*  '^*^*™»'  »^'«»*  a  sort  of  bar,  op,  more  nroneriv 

speaking,  over  an  extensi^.e  flat,  on  which  was  found  nH^K 

"  of  water  than  four  and  a  half  fathoms.  ^^ 

"u^^S  SVi^fn*''"  M  ^  i*P«"«nce  derived  by  this  visit,  it  ap- 
«« ffST^J^  1  f^  l^  advisable,  that  no  vessel  should  attempt  entering 
. L?     P®»^h"t  when  the  water  is  perfectly  smooth;  a  nassace  ma^ 

« wS  lf^^»'  ^'^^  «*'^^^'  »»"*  -»«»*  --  therto^^5f^:j: 

;;^ins  several  ano  Jing  placeL^t  ITilid^  *d  ^4  of  Watera^dT 
"eniovinTr'  T  ?»«^"'' "^  i"S^««.  as  has  been  Sep^^^sentS?   tJcLo 

predion  untavorable  to  -ts  continuance,  growine  out  of  the  inrom 
plote  survey  of  Lieutenant  Broughton    made  Jnd«.  the  ordZof 
Vancouver,  mi  792.     It  is  true  that  there  is  a  barTxtendinga^ss 
«  tiie  mouth  of  the  river,  at  either  extremity  of  which    a^  J  S 

"S^ef  XSlfTvJentv*  ''  ^^?^J^  *"'^'  ^^*  K!;&,\Ttb1fe 
unes.  a  deptfi  ot  twenty-one  feet  of  water,  thpouehout  a  Das8air«  er 

«  K  .K  *""?  ^"^  ***^  ^"**^"'  encouiite,^  a  change  of  windWhUe 

*^7JZ17J  ^  ^""^  *".^  ***"**'  ^"  «"*«"•  ^""'ach  the  harbor,  yet  founj^ 
«?n|Xbay!S***'  and  met  with  no  difficulty  either  then,  ^^  on  teav^ 

N«^  ^fXf^'lu^  ^  ^V^  '"***^  ^y  C'*P*a'n  Hickey,  of  the  British 
Navy,  "Who,  (he  says;    was  kind  enough  to  lend  himself  to  the  ex 
amination,  and  to  furnish  him  with  the  Lult,  wWchSt  be  relied' 
onfor  ite  accuracy.     It  is  the  mo«5  inter^tinga*  Tt  shows  That 

to^unkthat  the  natural  difficulties  at  the  mouThonheCo^S 
might  be  gi^ater  to  an  enemy,  than  to  those  accustomed  to  them* 


«l 


[  Hep.  No.  85.  ]  f  j 

^'  Were  there  any  inti-icacies  you  would  be  right,  but  it  is  a  nlain  bar 

u?vhn    it      I «  P"**"*"'  """^  *"y  **•»*  entrance  into  the  river-  and 
^vhile  Mount  OlympMs,  (the  mark  for  steering  in,)  rears  hiTm^'err 

«r*^I-?  ^rT^^'X""  '""«*  fin^o^^erimpedimiKsmaKf^ 
But  lortity  Cape  Disappointment  and  notMng  cZaU  or  having 

"  mrutirbt^^^^^  ""'^^  ^  -'^^  -^^^^ «-  sr';;«a! 

The  committee  cannot  conceive  that  anv  vv»a*  Aim^J,i*. 
iWf  to  skilful  navigator,,  well  ^^L^  ^"'S^S^TSI* 
ppoacliing  tiie  bay  through  a  passaM  tbptc  miles  inMo.^^  ?   Pj 

?:jr;u«!?i.^rtili;i^ir^^™^^^^^^ 

superior  knowledge  of  their  own  citizens  shoildZe  « JSTm^iS! 

e;phi;pSnt?;-^rr-  ir£i3^9 

"hardy,  from  the Ittemirt."'^'^'  '!<*«'■»»  enemy,  however 

The  Northern  part  of  this  region,  on  DeFuca'sSJmif  .»j  •* 

toathsomemarksimonthn««„,i,'u.„"™i,^..™.  .^'!*^^"^«r^^  had  left  its 
''-" "■  "«•- -^=v«ijcu  im  iaiauiy.    Major  Brooks, 


16 


[Rep.  No  85.] 


1 


who  visited  this  country  later,  (believed  to  he  between  1801  and  1808, 
found  many  deserted  villages,  and  tew  inhabitants.    It  is  therefore 
altogether  ])robuble,  thatb  ut  little  danger  is  to  be  apprehended  from 
their  hostility,  and  in  tiie  Peninsula,  that  a  very  small  force  would  bo 
sufficient  to  overawe  the  whole. 

The  tribes  further  North  arc  fi'i'ocious,  warlike,  and  treachemus, 
exhibiting  one  of  the  horrible  anomalies  in  human  nature,  the  desire 
to  feast  u]K)n  human  ilcsh.  I'hc  squeaniiMJi  moralist  may  alfect  to  grieve, 
if,  by  any  chance,  by  contact  with  the  whites,  or  otherwise,  any  dan- 
ger of  their  extcrininatitm  should  arise;  yet,  he  who  projwrly  appre- 
hends the  excellcnrc  of  his  own  nature,  would  no  more  reluct  at  tiie 
destniction  of  such  w  I'ctchcs,  than  he  would  at  that  of  the  beasts  who 
prowl  in  the  forest  for  pi*ey.  ► 

F'oi'tunatcly,  however,  t!ie  natives  of  Columbia  river  are  harmless, 
stupid,  imbecile,  good  temiiei-ed,  and  unsus|)ecting.  In  1 806.  their 
numbei*s,  from  the  Great  Falls,  including  those  about  the  Falls,  and  from 
there  to- the  ocean,  were  estinnited,  by  Lewis  and  Clarke,  at  13*000. 
Indian  population  rarely  increases,  generally  deci-eases.  If,  of  this 
number,  7,000  arc  allowed  for  feniale^j — and  this  estimate  is  certainly 
not  too  farge:  for  polygamy  is  practiced  amongst  them,  and  in  Indian 
warfare,  females  are  seldom  put  to  death — and  if,  of  the  remaining  6.000, 
one  half  be  counte^l  as  wai-riors,  which,  deducting  the  infirm,  the  chil- 
dren, and  the  old  men,  is  surely  a  large  estimate;  then  3,000  comprise 
the  whole  number  of  Indian  wan-iora,  and  these  are  distributed  amongst 
twenty  distinct  tribes.  It  would  belie  all  ex|)ei'ience,  if  any  conside* 
l^ble  number  of  Americans  could  be  destroyed,  in  any  contest  which 
might  happen,  if  they  deported  themselves  with  cummon  prudence. 
The  objects  of  Indian  rivalry  ai'e  similar,  and  the  tendency  to  hostili- 
ty is  greater  amongst  tJiemselvcs,  than  with  civilized  neighboi's,  to 
whom,  if  a  contest  should  arise,  it  is  more  than  probable  that  one  half 
of  them  would  he  found  allied. 

Lewis  and  Clarke  estimate  the  whole  Indian  population  West  ojf 
IJie  Rocky  Mountains,  at  80,000. 

The  committee  have  no  hesitation  in  saying,  that  a  small  fortifica- 
tion, with  a  few  cannon,  at  the  mouth  of  the  Columbia,  well  garrison- 
ed, would  defend  the  entrance  against  any  enemy,  who  should  attempt 
to  assail  it  from  sea.  That  small  posts,  at  theconfluence  of  the  Mult- 
nomah, the  Great  Falls,  Lewis's  river,  and  on  Clarke's  river,  some- 
where on  the  elevated  plain,  boi-dcring  on  the  Rocky  Mountains,  would 
overawe  all  tlie  Indians  on  the  waters  of  the  Columbia,  and  secure  a 
monopoly  of  trade;  and  that  another  post,  at  some  suitable  poin^  on 
the  waters  connected  with  DeFuca's  Strait,  would,  at  least,  scciu'cthe 
whole  trade  of  the  deligntful  peninsula,  which  it  waters. 

As  to  subsistence,  the  great  variety  and  abundance  of  game,  both 
beasts,  and  birds,  and  the  prodigious  quantities  of  the  finest  and  most 
nutritious  sjiccics  offish,  tliat  throng  the  waters  of  this  noble  river,  can 
leave  no  doubt  on  that  subject,  even  if  supplies  fi'oni  home  were  wliolly 
'withhold. 


[Hep.  No.  85  .J 


i% 


We  l«arri  from  Lewis  and  Clarke,  that  "the  multitudes  of  salmon, 
**  m  the  Oregon,  are  inconceivahle,  and  they  ascend  to  its  remotest 
"  sources,  to  the  very  ridge  of  the  dividing  mountains.  The  water  19 
"  HO  clear,  that  they  may  be  seen  at  the  depth  of  fifteen  or  twenty  feet 
«♦  At  certain  seasons,  they  float  in  such  quantities,  down  the  stream, 
«' and  are  drifted  ashore,  that  the  Indians  hare  only  to  collect,  split, 
• '  and  dry  them.  So  abundant  are  they,  that,  in  the  scarcity  of  wood, 
"dried  fish  are  often  used  as  fuel." 

Having  satisfied  themselves,  that  this  country  might  be  defended 
against  exterior  and  internal  enemies,  at  a  small  expense,  and  subsisted 
fi-om  Its  mtrmsic  resources,  the  Committee  then  turned  their  attention 
to  the  great  interests  already  existing  in  that  quarter,  which  the  es- 
tabhshment  of  a  post  or  posts  on  the  waters  of  the  Columbia  might 
serve  to  protect;  and  the  fur  trade  naturally  presented  itself  as  the  fir^ 
object  Cook  speaks  of  the  abundance  and  cheapness  of  the  furs  at 
INootka.  Portlock  and  Dixon  found  immense  profit  in  their  traffic^ 
on  the  more  Northerly  part  of  this  coast 

Lewis  and  Clarke  represent  this  region  as  abounding  in  the  fufw 
bearing  animals,  as  tlie  silver  fox,  beaver  in  large  numbers,  commoa 
otters,  sca-otters,  minks,  seals  in  great  numbers,  and  a  beautiful  ani- 
mal with  fine  fur,  resembling  the  squirrel,  called  the  sewellel;  and, 
also,  in  animals  whose  skins  are  of  less  value,  aa  the  white  bear,  the 
black  bear,  three  species  of  deer,  the  elk,  wolf,  tyger  cat  red  fox, 
black  fox,  antelope,  raccoon,  several  species  of  the  squirrel,  tlie  brara, 
an  animal  like  a  badger,  the  panther,  hare,  rabbit  and  pole-cat. 

Major  Brooks  says,  "the  sea  otter  fur  is  here  rai-e,  but  very  fincj 
"Minor  furs  in  abundance,  as  beaver,  land-otter,  mink,  muskrat  &c. 
"  &c.  and  bought  for  a  song.  The  principal  object  of  fur  traders 
«  hei-e,  when  the  Northern  Indians  are  providing  their  winter  stock 
"of  provisions,  and  cannot  trade,  is,  to  purchase  war  garments, 
"  and  a  certain  sliell  valued  at  the  North,  and  only  found  at  the  South, 
"  for  traflic  in  their  return  Northward." 

It  is  obvious,  that  at  no  very  distant  period,  all  the  valuable  fur- 
producing  animals  East  of  tlie  Rocky  Mountains  will  either  be  driven 
West  or  exterminated.  The  hunters  of  the  United  Northwest  and 
Hudson's  Bay  Companies,  pursue  their  game  with  an  avidity  arising 
fi-om  the  combined  influence  of  the  two  strongest  passions  of  the  hu- 
man heart  "the  love  of  pleasure,  and  the  love  of  gain."  The  em- 
ployment which  supplies  their  means  of  living,  is  the  delight  of  theiy 
lives.  Even  now,  the  beaver  is  almost  extinct.  It  is  well  woi-th  con- 
sideration, whether  pi-omjrt  measures  ought  not  to  be  adopted  to  prevent 
foreigners^  from  enjoying  an  almost  exclusive  monopoly  of  this  inva- 
luable trade,  within  our  own  limits,  and  a  total  monopoly  it  must  be- 
came, whenever  these  animals  shall  find  their  only  shelter  in  the  vast 
forests  on  the  Pacific  ocean,  unless  the  protecting  arm  of  tlie  Goverii- 
inent  shall  be  extended  to  that  region. 

In  connexion  with  the  fur  trade,  the  trade  in  the  sandal  wood  of  th? 
Sandwich  Islands,  which  is  used  in  the  religious  ceremonies  of  the 
Chinesei  and  alwavs  H^^^irs     '••       •        .—     .  ... 

.9      * 


18 


[Rep.  No.  85.] 


consideration;  this,  with  ginnrng,  which  grows  in  pfonision  on  this 
coastv  opium,  cop|)er,  and  H|)cric,  arc  tlie  only  mliclcs  with  which 
trade  can  bo  transHctod  in  tl^at  city. 

<  The  Connnittee  are  indehtnl  to  the  North  Ainnirftn  Review  for  a 
very  able  article  on  the  subject  of  our  claim  to  the  Noi'thwrst  Coast. 
and'  the  value  of  the  fur  tiwle.  »•  In  1801,  sixteen  ships  were  engagid 
«» in  the  traffic,  fifteen  of  which  were  owned  in  the  United  States,  and 
"  one  in  Gi-eat  Britain.  Eighteen  tiunisand  sea  otter  skins,  besides 
«« other  fta-s,  wci-e  collected  for  tiie  China  market,  in  tliat  year,  by  the 
**Aniencan  vessels  alone." 

•*ln  18522.  theiv.  were  fourteen  vessels  from  the  United  States  cn- 
<Vgagedin  this  trade,  combined  with  that  to  the  Satidwich  Islands  for 
<^8andai  woml.  These  vessels  were  fi-om  200  to  400  tons  each* 
«  Crews  from  25  to  30  each,  and  the  duration  of  tlie  voyage  usually 
*•  three  years.'* 

Tlie  usual  course  of  thrs  trade  is  a  voyage  to  the  Northwest  Coast, 
where  a  part  of  the  cargo  is  exchaugoil  for  fui-s.:  then  tw  the  Sandwich 
islands,  \>here  the  lading  is  completed  Avith  sandal  wood;  then  to 
Canton,  whei-e  this  cargo  is  exchanged  iVn*  teas,  *cc. 

The  value  at  Canton,  of  fin*s,  sandal  wood,  and  other  articles  carri- 
ed thither  in  1821,  by  American  vessels,  fi'om  this  coast,  is  estimated 
by  the  writer  at  8500,000  in  that  market;  and  this  was  an  under  es- 
timate.    The  capital  employed  com|)aratively  nothing. 

Since  that  time  it  is  presumed  that  the  trnde  has  notbe^en  less.* 

*  Much  iiifvrtnation  may  be  derived  rmmistatements  formerly  presented  to  this  House 
by  a  gentlenukn  once  at  the  head  of  a  Committee  appointed  "  to  consider  the  expedi- 
ency of  the  occupation  of  the  mouth  of  the  Cohimbia  Kjver,  by  the  United  States," 
and  whose  industry  and  p'^raeverance  in  obtaining  information,  on  every  topic  illus- 
trative of  the  value  of  this  country  and  its  trade,  are  deservingf  of  all  praise. 
,  In  the  season  of  1817-18,  there  were  sold  in  the  Canton  market,  all  presumed  to 
be  tVom  this  Coast — 


Sea  Otttet-  skins,    • 

125,310 

.  Land  Otter, 

47,000 

Beaver, 

75,385 

Fox  skins. 

525 

Seal, 

70,9:55 

Mink,       . 

334 

Habbit, 

150 

Muakrat, 

420 

all  sohl  at  |563,51d 
174,075 

in  addition,  sandal  wood, 

. 

ginseng, 

144,000 
1  881,585 

ISK 

J-19.— Sea  Otter, 

124,000 

Land  Otter, 

49.-125 

'^■i 

Beaver,           • 

70,065 

Seal  skins, 

100,300 

Rabbit, 

750 

Fox  skins, 

7,550 

Sea  Otter  tails. 

10,136 

sold  at    $362,296 

\ 

Sandal  wood. 

• 

. 

91,.368 

Gimengt 

• 

♦                        ■ 

77,770 

J 


t531,434 


[Rep.  No.  35.] 


4$ 


TiiC  Coniniittco  entertain  no  doubt  that,  on  tho  lowest  estimate 
founded  on  any  accurate  statement,  the  amount  of  annua  HaloH  at  tan- 
ton,  of  artlclea  from  the  Northwest  Coast  anC  Sandwich  Islands,  ar^ 
equal  to  half  a  million  of  dollar,  after  deducting  the  tuiginal  outfit  ol 
rich  vessel;  for  it  is  well  known  that  the  cargoes  whuh  are  taken 
from  America  to  this  coaiit,  are  generally  the  retuse  ot  the  hardwai-c 
shops,  and  of  very  little  value.  ^j,.    *       .  .u    i  ♦  •-- 

The  proceeds  of  the  sales  are  generally  Invested' m  teas,  the  duties 
on  which,  we  learn  from  the  he.it  authority,  are,  on  an  average,  equal 
to  the  original  cost  of  the  article  in  the  Chinese  market;  giving  to  the 
revenue  the  annual  sum  oifve  hundred  thousand  dollars,  and  an  ad- 
vance to  the  owneis  in  the  American  maiket.     This  trade  is  to  be  con- 
sidered in  another  iwint  of  xkw;  much  of  the  tea  Is  roshipped  to  Hol- 
land, to  the  Mediterranean,  to  the  West  Indies,  South  America,  and 
elsewhere,  giving  activity  to  other  imiwrtant  branches  ol  trade,  cm- 
ploymont  to  sailors,  Ifcight  to  ship  owners,  nrturning  to  our  market 
other  articlcJs,  productive  both  of  profit  and  of  revenue.     1  he  his-   , 
tory  of  this  trade,  when  understood,  will  furnish    sL   partial  solu- 
tion of  a  problem   in  p«ditical  eonomy.    Notwithstanding  the  ap- 
parent advance  of  the  nation  in  wealth  and  puospenty,  a  national 
bankruptcy  was  appi-ehehded,  because  the  books  of  tho  CustondiouseH 
exhibited  an  alarming  excess  of  impoits  over  exiwrts.     It  was  appre- 
hended, and  appaivntly  with  some  degree  of  reastm,  that  the  excess 
of  importatioas  would  eventually  pi-oduce  a  ruinous  balance  against 
the  United  Sti^tes.     Yet,  ujion  examination,  it  will  be  eas.ly  discover- 
ed that  the  return  of  » 1,000,000  in  the  pi-oductions  of  China,  as  an 
offset  against  a  trilling  expoi-t,  instead  of  indicating  an  extravagant 
and  ruinous  excess  of  importations,  demonsti-ates  tlie  immense  profits 
of  trade  and  navigation  on  this  coast    It  will  easily  be  seen,  that  the 
continuance  of  this  tra«le  for  thirty  years,  (and  it  has  been  pursued  lor 
a  longer  period,)  has  added  gl 5,000,000  to  the  actual  capital  of  the 
country,  besides  paying  to  the  revenue  §15,000,000  more,     let, 
for  its  protection,  not  a  dollar  of  the  public  money  has  been  ex- 
pended.   No  public  ship  has   been  stationed  in  the   North  Pacific 
and,  since  the  appropriation  of  a  trifling  sum  to  cover  the  expenses  ol 
Lewis  and  Clarke's  exploring  expedition,  twenty  years  ago,  not  a  sin- 
gle rifleman  has  been  supported  at  the  public  expense,  while,  for  the 

protection  of  th«'  EuroFan  and  West  India  trade,  squadrons  have  been 
innually  sent  forth;  and  what  is  still  more  extraordinary,  to  protect 


1819-20.— Furs, 

Santlal  woud, 

Ginsenfif, 

Sea  Otter  Uiln, 

1830-21.— Furs. 

Ginsenp^, 
Sandal  wood, 

1821-21:.— Furs. 

Ginsenp, 
Sandal  wood. 


J52i5,101 

82,872 

38,000 

5,789 

1340,991 

171,275 

73,508 

f  490,081 
209,610 
268,220 


$  371,763 
$.585,774 
$967,911  ! 


u 


[Rep,  No<  85.] 


«A 


i       I 


■u 


oar  own  citizeitg  against  the  apprehended  ruiiious  efTects  of  those 
branches  of  trade,  a  series  of  legislative  reoDcdies  have  been  proiiosed. 
Mid  have  passed  into  laws ! 

Our  stars  and  stripes,  it  is  true,  are  annually  displayed  in  the  South 
Pacific;  yet  the  Committee  cannot  discover  the  object  of  our  expeditions 
there,  unless  it  be,  to  exhibit  the  symbols  of  our  sovereignty  to  the  mi. 
serable  Creoles  who  inhabit  tlie  Western  coast  of  South  America,  to 
which,  on  one  occasion,  fliey  shewed  but  little  resficct,  inasmuch  as  they 
•uflfeped  the  frigate  Essex  to  be  captured  under  the  guns  of  their  batte- 
ries;  and  as  little  on  another,  when  they  permitted  the  marauder  wh» 
commanded  their  navy,  and  who,  after  having  been  exijellcd  from  Eng- 
land with  disgrace,  as  a  swindler,  was  suncred  by  tlicm  to  play  the 
part  of  a  pirate  here,  by  plundering  our  vessels  at  pleasure,  and  wlik 
impunity. 

Of  late  yeai-s,  the  snbfwct  of  the  whale  fislicry  has  been  so  often  be- 
fore the  public,  that  none  can  bo  insensible  to  its  value. 

For  a  long  period  this  pursuit  was  confined  in  tho  Pacific,  to  the  wa- 
ters South  of  the  equator,  but  there  the  success  of  the  whalemen,  the 
hunters  of  the  deep,  has  been  so  destructive,  that  they  are  compelled 
to  traverse  seas  far^  the  North;  and  the  coast  of  Japan  is  now  the 
limit  of  their  adventurous  voyages. 

Nothing  but  the  apprehended  difficulties  of  tlie  entrance  of  the  Co- 
lumbia river,  and  extent  of  unexploretl  coast,  has  pi-evented  these  dar- 
ing navigators  from  frequenting  a  shore,  represented  by  all  who  have 
visited  it,  to  be  thronged  with  whales. 

The  fur  trade  and  the  whale  fishery,  are  the  great  nurseries  of  sea- 
men. A  fur  voyage  generally  continues  three  years;  a  whaling  \  oy- 
age  in  the  North  Pacific,  never  less  than  two.  In  these  long  voyages 
the  habits  of  landsmen  are  accommodated  to  the  ocean,  and  a  ctrtain- 
ty  ^nd  precision  in  nautical  knoM  ledge  and  seamanship,  and  bardi- 
hoi^d  and  intrepidity  and  a  habit  of  self  reliance  are  acquired, 
which  enables  them  to  encounter,  successfully,  all  tlie  perils  of 
the  element  on  which  they  live,  and  elevates  them  to  the  summit  of 
professional  excellence.  They  visit  every  clime — they  encompass  tlie 
world.  Not  like  the  humble  sti]»endiaries,  too  often  seen  in  the  Euro- 
pean and  West  Indian  trade,  reckless  of  the  interest  of  tlieir  employ- 
ers, and  anxious  only  to  secure  their  monthly  wages,  the  sailors  who 
visit  these  remote  seas,  are  the  partners  of  merchants,  they  share  t\m 
"profits  as  well  as  the  losses  of  the  voyage,  and  they  are  sure  of  receiv- 
ing, evTntually,  an  elevation  in  command  juoportionate  to  their  merit 
^nd  exertions. 

The  great,  but  undeveloped  capacities  of  this  region  on  the  North 
West  Coast  for  ti'ade,  must  be  obvious  to  every  one  who  inspects  its, 
map. 

A  vast  river,  with  its  tributaries  and  branches,  waters  its  whole  ex- 
tent through  seven  degrees  of  latitude,  and  even  penetrates  beyond, 
into  the  territories  of  otlier  nations. 

It  abounds  in  excellent  timber,  and  in  spai's,  equal  to  tlios©  of  New 
Zealand,  unsui*passed  by  any  in  the  world. 


[Rep.  No.  85.} 


21 


« 


tts  waters  afrc  navigable  for  \  cssels  through  half  its  oXtent,  and  foe 
boats  (saving  a  lew  short  portag#H,)  through  half  the  rt'inuiuder. 

The  water  jKiwcr  for  ni(»ving  uiaiuifacturing  machinery  is  unequall« 
od,  and  roinmenrcs  where  the  navigation  terminates. 

Ic  is  boun<lcd  on  the  South  by  a  country  which  abounds  in  cattle  and 
wheat,  the  two  gi-eat  sources  of  subsistence  for  a  new  colony,  and 
wliich  can  be  reachc<l  by  sea  in  less  thaii  ten  (hiys,  in  the  vicinity  too 
of  other  countries,  whose  "interior  is  filled  witli  the  profUms  metals, 
and  with  the  richest  articles  of  commeice,  and  whose  sluu-Cii  abound 
in  the  pearl-producing  oyster. 

It  is  withm  twenty  or  thirty  days  sail  of  the  coasts  of  Peru  and 
Chili,  which  stretch  in  a  long  narrow  line  along  the  ocean,  indented 
with  fine  bays  and  barhtn-s,  which  countries  would  necessarily  become 
commeiTial,  wei-ethey  not  destitute  of  aU  the  materials  for  ship  build- 
ing :  of  coui*se  they  must  dciiond  on  tiic  country  which  can  supply 
those  materials  at  the  cheapest  rate. 

It  is  within  seventy  or  eighty  days  sail  of  China,  and  the  East  In- 
dian seas,  and  within  tliirty  of  the  Sandwich  Islands,  the  We,t  I'^dies 
of  the  Pacific.  at)ounding  in  saudal  wood,  in  the  sugar  cane,  in  tropi- 
cal fruits,  and  perfectly  aclapted  to  the  culture  of  coffee  and  cotton. 

On  one  side  it  approaches  a  country  where  coal  in  prodigious nuan- 
tities  has  already  been  discovered,  and,  on  the  other,  the  borders  of  a 
sea.  which,  for  a  space  of  seventy-six  degiTcs,  is  seldom  ruffled  by  a 
storm,  and  which,  in  all  pi-obability,  can  be  traversed  iji  every  direc- 
tion by  steam  boats. 

These  advantages,  great  as  they  now  arc,  will  be  trifling,  in  com- 
parison to  what  they  will  be,  whi.'never  a  water  communicaticm  be- 
tween the  Atlantic  and  Pacific  oceans,  thi-ough  the  Isthmus,  dividing 
Noi-th  and  South  America,  shall  have  been  effected.  Of  the  practica- 
bility of  this  coiftjmunication  there  is  no  doubt.  If  Humboldt  is  to  be  be- 
lieved, t!ie  expense  at  one  place  would  not  excee<l  that  of  the  Delaware 
and  Chcsai)eake  canal.  Should  it  be  done,  a  revolution  in  commerce  will 
be  effected,  greater  than  any  since  the  discovery  of  America;  by  which 
bot'i  the  power  and  tlie  objects  of  its  action  will  be  more  than  doubled. 
Tiie  Indian  commerce  of  Europe  will  ])ass  through  America,  and 
more  commercial  wealth  will  he  borne  upon  the  ample  bosom  of  the 
Pacific,  than  ever  was  wafted  over  the  waves  of  the  Atlantic,  in  the 
proudest  days  of  the  commercial  greatness  of  Sjjain,  Portugal,  France, 
Holland,  and  England. 

If  it  were  given  to  a  civilized,  commercial,  and  manufacturing  peo- 
ple ♦•whereto  choose  their  place  of  rest,"  the  world  affords  no  position 
eipial  to  this,  and  it  requires  no  i)rOphetic  spii'it  to  foresee  the  wealth 
and  grandeur  of  that  fru-tunate  race,  whose  happy  destiny  shall  have 
placed  their  ancestors  in  this  beautiful  region. 

Impressed  with  a  sense  of  the  great  advantages  which  may  result  to 
tlie  United  States,  from  the  estahlishtnent  of  a  post  or  posts  in  thistcr- 
ritorv,  by  which-,  in  our  o>»'!?!l')th  the  snyjigps  may  be  conciliated* 
the  fur  trade  secured,  the  whale  fishery  partially  protected,  our  title 
«trengtliemd,  and  tlu-  way  p»oi^)4J'cd  for  t\iturc  cnterprizcs,  if  subse- 


2% 


[  Rep.  No.  35.  3 


qiicnt  evcnf  should  prove  fuvorahlc,  we  have  concun-ca  most  fully 
in  opiwlon  uUi  i.  l'|(.Hi,)ent  that  ••  the  river  of  the  West  tti-st  fully 
•♦  Uiscovej  .,  am  navigated  by  a  countryman  of  our  own,  claims  the 
*.  |r»»t«:U(i  <\i  ,  ir  armed  national  flug  at  its  mouth,  or  at  some  other 
<*m4ii|  on  tbatci>.,f^t." 

T\m  Committee  ihink  that  fi\e  humlnd  men  will  bo  amply  sufli- 
t^M,  not  only  to  establish  and  maintain  (»<..  post,  but  several  others, 
ftinl  thai  J'or  the  complete  (lofcnce  of  the  entrance  of  the  Columbia,  no- 
ittiMtg  will  be  necessary,  but  >  few  cannon  placed  in  a  stoi^kadcd  fort, 
whltfr  can  \w  erected  at  small  expense. 

In  toiilufi  ;»y  wUh  this  opinicm,  the  u  M  which  we  report  provides 
that  the  l»rt'.si(l  iit  may  establish  a  juist  or  jwsts,  within  the  limits  of 
the  United  States  on  the  Pacific  ocean,  or  on  the  waters  connected 
with  that  ocean,  w here,  and  in  such  manner  as  he  shall  see  fit;  sub- 
mitting the  location  to  his  discretion,  which  discretion,  will  doubtless 
be  d(!termined  after  careful  examination,  and  a  comparison  of  the  ad- 
vantages and  disad\  antagcs  of  different  positions. 


EXPLORATION  OF  THE  NORTHWEST  COAST. 

The  subject  of  a  voyage  of  exploration  on  the  Northwest  Coast  has 
also  received  the  particular  attention  of  the  Committee. 

Navigators  have  done  but  little  to  ascertain  the  character  of  this 
coast,  from  lat.  42  N.  to  the  mouth  of  the  Columbia. 
^  .From  the  Spanish  voyages  nothing  can  be  learned. 

Cook  first  discovered  the  coast  of  New  Albion,  (March  7,  1778,)  in 
lat.  44°  33',  being  then  eight  leagues  off  shoi-e,  and  in  seventy -three 
fathoms  ot  water.  The  weather  became  unpleasant,  and  the  winds 
ndvei;se,  and  his  view  was  obstk-ucted.  On  the  ninth  of  March,  he 
saw  It  again,  farther  South,  between  44°  6'  and  43°  30'.  Stormy 
weather  sucx-ccding,  he  was  compelled  to  abandon  it,  and  saw  no  land 
again  until  he  was  near  the  entrance  of  De  Fuca's  Sti-ait,  which  he 
passed  without  discovery. 

The  »p jearance  of  the  coast  there,  he  describes  thus:  "We  were 
"now  in  lorty  eight  fathoms  water,  and  four  leagues  fron.>  the  land,  ' 
"  extending  from  iioi-th  to  southeast;  and  a  small  round  hill,  v  h  ,rh  .ve 
<'  supiwsed  to  be  an  islajul,  bore  north  thr«  r>  quartors  cast,  at  M;  •  *Iis- 
*'tance  of  about  six  or  seven  leagues.  It  seemed  to  be  of  r  i  ;  ^'m" 
*'  height,  and  could  but  just  be  seen  from  the  deck.  There  apjieared 
"to  be  a  small  oi)ening  between  this  supposed  island,  and  the  noi-thern 
"extreme  of  the  land;  we  therclbi-e  entertained  somes  hopes  of  finding 
"an  harbor;  ^.Jt these  hopes  gradually  vanished  as  we  grew  nearer; 
"  and  at  lengti  v«  were  almost  convinced,  that  tlie  opening  was  closed 
"by  low  lam!  ■>:.   JoDvr  odore,  for  this  reason,  named  the  point  of 

''luiiutotheirHUs    "h     :»ipe  Flattery.     Its  latitude  is  48"  15' north; 
"in  this  very  iaiitu::^,  ^^eograph  •      have  placed  tlie  pretended  strait 


[Rep.  No.  85.] 


38 


**  of  Juan  de  Fum.    But  notlnnR  of  that  kind  proflcntcd  itself  to  our 
««  view,  nor  in  it  probable  tbat  any  such  thing  ever  existed.'* 

Vancouver  Hailed  along  this  coast  in  extremely  pleasant  weather, 
but  could  discover  neitlu'f  iiarbor,  river,  or  inlet,  between  42  N.  and 
Dc  Fuca'9  Strait,  although  he  was  in  sight  of  tije  mouth  of  ti»e  Colum- 
bia, and  his  ship  floated  ujwn  its  \vtitei"s,  at  the  very  place  where  fh*'^ 
mincled  with  the  ocean.  His  sagacity  induced  him  to  believe,  that  a 
mighty  river  nnist  be  there,  and  he  only  ;>  iehh'd  his  conviction  to  tho 
evidence  of  his  senses,  v  h5ch  disc**  red  to  liijui,  (as  he  thou;^  it.)  n(K 
thing  but  an  unbroken  i*ct'i  of  n>cks,  against  which  tlie  waves  of  tho 
ocean  were  beating  in  terrific  conflict 

The  ill  success  of  two  such  illus.rious  navigators,  as  Cook  and  Van- 
couver, furnishes  striking  instances  of  the  vanity  of  human  science  and 
skill. 

Within  the  three  degi-ees  of  latitude,  wh'uh  Cook,  by  had  weathetf 
wiis  prevented  from  visiting  *he  greatest  rivei*  in  Western  America 
«Jis(.-hargcd  itself  into  the  ocean,  and  he  lost  the  chance  of  a  discovery, 
wiiich  would  have  been  the  pnnidest  of  his  IrituTijihs.  Deceived  by 
the  appearance  of  the  land,  he  lost  the  furtiier  triumph,  of  rediscover- 
ing the  long  lost  Strait  of  De  Fuca,  after  he  had  actually  seen  the  o])eu- 
ing,  by  which  it  communicated  with  the  sea. 

The  mouth  of  the  Columbia  eluded  the  view  of  Vaif-ouver,  in  con- 
(Sequcnce  of  the  deceptive  appearance  of  a  continuous  shoie.  This 
noble  river,  which  had  rolled  its  mighty  mass  of  waters  for  countless 
centuries,  through  primeval  forests,  in  solemn  and  silent  grandeur  to 
the  ocean,  had  escaped  the  researches  of  the  navigators  o*' Spain,  Rus- 
sia, and  Great  Britain;  and  this  grand  discovery  wits  1<  it,  (it  would 
seem  almost  providcntally,)  to  perpetuate  for  ages,  not  (h  ly  the  name 
of  an  humble  American,  but  even  the  name  of  the  ship  wi  h  which  he 
was  quietly  navigating  this  coast,  for  commercial  purpost  s ;  and  he 
had  also  the  further  tiiumph  of  rediscovering  the  long  lost,  celebrated 
£traitof  De  Fuca,  which  had  baffled  the  lynx-eyed  vigilance  of  Cook. 

Ofthe  coast  in  45°  32'  N.,  Vancouver  says,  "tlie  more  inl  ind  coun- 
«  try  is  considerably  elevated,  the  mountains  stretch  towarii  ;  the  sea, 
«*  and,  at  a  distance,  appealed  to  form  many  inlets  and  j  rqjecting 
"points;  but  the  sandy  beach  that  continued  along  the  coas*^  render- 
"  ed  it  a  compact  shore."  It  is  not  certain,  however,  that  the  o  is  not 
between  this  sandy  beach,  and  the  interior  mountainous  counti  ,  much 
^avigable  water,  communicating  with  the  ocean  by  narrow  inl  ts,  like 
tlie  coast  uf  North  Carolina;  at  any  rate  the  fact  ought  to  b*  ascer- 
tained. 

The  most  skilful  navigators  are  deceived  by  appearances  •  i  land 
as  well  as  on  the  water.  Cook  asserts  that  he  saw  land  South  o  Cape 
Gregory,  covered  with  snow,  Vancouver  says  Jthat  this  appearance 
was  ])roduced  by  sand  «'  extremely  white." 

If  such  navigators  as  Cook  and  Vancouver  should  be  so  far  deceived 
iJi  the  appearanreof  the  land,  as  to  suffer  the  mouth  of  the  Columbia 
and  the  entrance  of  De  Fuca's  Strait  to  escape  discovery,  after  a  lose 
examination,  mRde,  with  tjie  cxnrcss  view  of  asco.it^inin"  the €xi.st *^nce 


uaiWlD^i     MUilRfJ  ' 


34 


[Hep.  No-  35. j 


6f  biiUi,  it  would  not  be  surprising  if  many  discoveries  were  yet  made 
in  this  quarter.  .    ,.       ,        x 

•  If  m)  rj-vere  communicate  with  the  ocean,  along  the  line  of  coast 
from  42  to  4«,  yet,  it  wonld  be  surprising,  indeed,  if  tliere  were  not 
several  undisoBver^l  bays,  harbors,  and  inlets;  if  such  do  not  exist,  it 
isa  reniariiable  fact,  contrary  to  all  the  analogies  of  nature:  a  hilly  or 
inountainous  coast  being  always  deeply  indented  by  openings,  extend- 
ing far  inland,  which  form  secure  and  convenient  harbors. 

Another  fact  ought  to  be  ascertained;  in  some  of  t!»e  latest  maps,  the 
long  river  Monges,  wiiich  flows  far  fi-om  the  interior,  is  representetl  a» 
discharging  itself  into  the  ocean  North  of  42;  in  others,  nearly  as  re- 
cent, and  of  equal  authority,  the  samfe  river  is  made  to  conununicate 
witli  the  ocean  Soutli  of  42. 

TIjc  mouth  and  bay  of  the  Columbia  river  shtHild  receive  a  more  par- 
ticular examination,  as  well  as  the  river  itself,  as  fai-  as  it  is  navigable. 
The  Multnomah,  its  great  Southern  tributary,  should  be  explored: 
fourteen  miles  fwrn  its  confluence  with  the  Columbia,  its  water  (ac- 
cording tx>  Capt.  Clarke)  was  of  sufficient  depth  to  float  vessels  of  the 

.  That  pai-t  of  tlie  coast  between  the  mouth  of  the  Columbia  and  De 
Fuca's  Stj'ait,  and  the  waters  conuntinicating  with  that  strait  from  the 
South,  although  explored  by  Vancouver  and  his  ofliccrs,  might  be  re- 
examined with  advantage.  If  nothing  raoi*  was  ascertained,  than 
that  their  sur\eys  wei-e  correct,  it  would  be  productive  of  some  benefit 
to  science,  and  of  some  service  to  the  nation. 

To  the  North  an  exploration  is  more  necessary,  particularly  as  we 
have  but  an  imperfect  kno\\  letlge  of  the  rivers  Tacmdche  Tessc,  and 
Cdedonia.  .  From  tlie  natives  <vf  this  region  but  little  dilliculty  is  to  be 
apprehended  :  those  m  the  Columbia  and  Dc  Fuca's  Strait  have  al- 
ready been  mentioned.  Vancouver  repj-csents  those  which  he  met 
near*  Cape  Orford,  <'as  pleasing  and  courteous  in  their  deportraenft, 
and  scrupulously  honest'* 


EXPENSE. 

That  a  cormt  Estimate  of  the  expense  attending  the  establishment 
of  a  military  i)()st  on  tlie  waters  of  the  Northwest  Coitst  may  be  formed, 
we  refer  the  EIousc  to  a  message  fi-om  tl»e  Pi-esident  of  tiie  United 
States,  contained  in  the  fifth  volume  of  the  Executive  pai)ers,  and  com- 
municated to   the  Eighteenth  Congress,  during  their  first  session, 

No.  85.  ^.      ,       '*■ 

Gyn.  Jesup,.thc  Quartermaster  General  of  the  Army,  estimates  the 
exiiense  of  transporting  two  hundred  troops  from  the  Council  Blufts 
to  the  mouth  of  Columbia  river,  ut       -  -  -  I'c  nn<^ 

He  adds,  for  unforeseen  expenses,         -  -  -  ISsOOx) 

♦*  And  (says  he)  for  the  transportation  of  the  heavy  baggage, 

--  WlUlIillin;,      OIIU    a   .-:iIJfj«J      '.-l    yfrrt.'^ 7      -^-     r  -     -     ,a^ 


ret  made 

of  coast 
were  not 
;  exist,  it 
I  hilly  or 
extend- 

naps,  the 
sentetl  a» 
ly  as  re- 
inunicate 

nore  par- 
ivigablc. 
explored : 
ater  (ac- 
uls  of  the 

i  and  De 
fi-om  the 
;ht  be  re- 
ed, than 
Vd  benelit 

ply  as  we 
"esse,  and 
y  is  to  be 
t  have  al- 
i  he  met 
[tortnieniiy 


blishment 
e  formed, 
le  United 
and  com- 
t  session, 

mates  the 

icil  Bluffs 

S 1 5.000 

15>00f> 


25 


« 


C  Bep.  No.  85.J 

14,000 
fore  the  House  of  ReprcsentaavM  S  „i  *u  v*'^  *^  ■«*»  '"W  •"=- 

inaccessible  to  a  vS^^dJ^l-W  «k*"  '"'"''"^  *'  ^^^"^ 
The  estimate  of  the  annual  expense  of  such  vessel  is 


838,000 


16,500 


10,000 
E64,50*f 


ffZi^a:^^^^^^^^  «-  Whole  expense,  of 

ferred  to  this  serv icrthnff  '^^^"""f  ^  c««W  be  ti-ans- 
opinion  of  the  SecSrv^fr^^^  f  "^'  ^^P^"«^'  i»  «»« 
quire  any  XratTo^Hn  fhp?  ."**l?*'  "^  S^»*  ««  *«  re- 
be  reqiSed  ^tS  .o!  ^"""^^  e««mates,  all  that  would 
wouw"e     .     '^'^\'^'*^^^^  the  usual  apppropriation. 

And  ifoneofthe  United  States' srhonn^^c.    ii.    x     ".       5526,500 
red  fi^m  another  service  to  thifZ      '^""^'^  be  transfer- 
expense,  in  that  caserwou?d  be'oSt"'"''''^  ^'^^^"^"^^ 

Jhe  estimate  of  the  Quartermaster  Lneral  may  heaV  some  X- 

ciefo?I^;u,!SLrvrcf  "e^  ^'T*^  -™-^  that  the  exigen- 
on  all  the  s^atf^rtrfurnlb^^^^^^^  '?  '""^'^'^^  ^  to  requl,^, 
tl.e  official  statements  o  he  S^afv  of  '^^  T  '"  ,?"» "^^^^«"'  >^«* 
Government  in  that  Department  S.ft  ^^^^^  the  organ  of  the 
they  think  ihat  it  is  req  ,™  either^n  ^^.^^''fSarded.  Neither  do 
ti-ue  economy,  tliat  the  ainlnf  f  *"?  P"»^»P'e«  of  «ound  policy  or 

and  for  a  voyage  of  ex phSor^h  "^^^^^^  ^'  '  P-*' 

required  to  cover  tlie  eYoected  rvm>mirf  ^.*,'*  *''^ '^""^  ^^tiially 

and  there  may  be  a  ne-cStv  fol  f  P^'"  *"^e5  accidents  may  happen, 
to  be  hoped,  SiatXte^:^^^^^^^^^^  ^ti.^ 

will  be  judiciously  and  frugally  cx^^^^^^^^         ^'''*  ''  appropriated,  it 

'  -  -  ^^'°  ^>^^^^  "«t  only  snppiy  o„r  full  proportion  to  rhe'cimmorsVS 


26 


[Hep.  No.  85.] 


»i  of  geographical  and  astronomical  science^"  but  who  will  gain  in  that 
field,  as  many  laurels,  as  they  have^heretofore  in  the  field  of  glory;  who, 
instead  of  rearing  crosses,  burying  coins,  and  engraving  names,  are 
destined,  we  trust,  to  plant  the  standards  of  a  Republican  nation  idong 
the  endless  !?hores  of  the  vast  Pacific,  not  as  the  barren  emblems  of 
nominal  sovereignty,  but  as  signals  both  of  power  and  protection,  of 
!aw,  knowledge,  civilization^  and  liberty. 


